US open: Stocks ease despite upbeat earnings, shutdown optimism

(Sharecast News) - Major indices were slightly lower early on Tuesday as third-quarter earnings season kicked up a gear, with several big name firms xxxx

As of 1500 BST, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 0.09% at 46,749.00, while the S&P 500 shed 0.12% to 6,727.20 and the Nasdaq Composite came out of the gate 0.33% softer at 22,915.01.

The Dow opened 42.42 points higher on Tuesday, extending gains recorded in the previous session on the back of improving sentiment regarding trade tensions and hopes that the government shutdown could end this week after National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett said the White House was prepared to take stronger action to end the impasse, now the third-longest in US history.

Trade tensions remained in focus early on Tuesday after Donald Trump reiterated the threat of a 100% tariff hike on Chinese imports from 1 November. However, his upbeat tone on a potential deal with Beijing helped ease concerns, with a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping still expected to take place later this month in South Korea.

Earnings were set be Tuesday's primary focus, with General Motors shares rallying after the automotive giant beat estimates with its Q3 figures and raised its full-year guidance as it also trimmed the expected hit from Donald Trump's tariffs, while Coca-Cola and 3M also traded higher after both companies posted better-than-expected quarterly results.

GE Aerospace also raised its full-year earnings outlook for the second time in four months after delivering what chief executive Larry Culp called an "exceptional quarter", powered by surging jet-engine output, robust aftermarket demand and improving supply chains.

Separately, Warner Brothers Discovery was in the green early on Tuesday after announcing it had widened its strategic review and that it was open to a potential sale.

Still to come, Netflix and Chubb will publish their latest quarterly figures after the close.

No major data points were slated for rekease on Tuesday.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com

Dow Jones - Risers

Apple Inc. (AAPL) $263.14 2.00%

Amgen Inc. (AMGN) $303.29 1.78%

Intel Corp. (INTC) $38.04 0.11%

Dow Jones - Fallers

Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) $70.55 -0.16%

S&P 500 - Risers

TripAdvisor Inc. (TRIP) $17.66 12.45%

Zions Bancorporation (ZION) $53.62 7.15%

Illumina Inc. (ILMN) $100.30 4.35%

Hologic Inc. (HOLX) $74.25 3.20%

Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) $345.14 3.13%

QUALCOMM Inc. (QCOM) $167.11 2.90%

Nasdaq Inc (NDAQ) $91.72 2.77%

Northern Trust Corp. (NTRS) $129.15 2.75%

DENTSPLY Sirona Inc. (XRAY) $13.00 2.69%

eBay Inc. (EBAY) $96.06 2.67%

S&P 500 - Fallers

Western Digital Corp. (WDC) $120.31 -6.22%

Seagate Technology Plc (STX) $216.20 -5.36%

Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc. (ULTA) $520.40 -3.50%

Micron Technology Inc. (MU) $204.46 -2.67%

Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) $83.80 -2.41%

Monster Beverage Corp (MNST) $69.04 -2.26%

F5 Inc. (FFIV) $297.22 -1.58%

Apache Corp. (APA) $22.47 -1.30%

Tractor Supply Company (TSCO) $54.79 -1.29%

Incyte Corp. (INCY) $85.97 -1.22%

Nasdaq 100 - Risers

Illumina Inc. (ILMN) $100.30 4.35%

Qvc Group Inc Series A (QVCGA) $14.48 3.43%

Hologic Inc. (HOLX) $74.25 3.20%

Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) $345.14 3.13%

Mercadolibre Inc. (MELI) $2,110.00 3.10%

QUALCOMM Inc. (QCOM) $167.11 2.90%

DENTSPLY Sirona Inc. (XRAY) $13.00 2.69%

eBay Inc. (EBAY) $96.06 2.67%

Amazon.Com Inc. (AMZN) $219.51 2.55%

Biogen Inc (BIIB) $146.79 2.29%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers

Western Digital Corp. (WDC) $120.31 -6.22%

Seagate Technology Plc (STX) $216.20 -5.36%

Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc. (ULTA) $520.40 -3.50%

Micron Technology Inc. (MU) $204.46 -2.67%

Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) $83.80 -2.41%

Monster Beverage Corp (MNST) $69.04 -2.26%

Incyte Corp. (INCY) $85.97 -1.22%

CSX Corp. (CSX) $36.39 -0.97%

Baidu Inc. (BIDU) $119.48 -0.93%

Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO) $260.48 -0.89%